From Focus, 5, newsletter of the Warminster Liberal Party, November 1989:
A selection of Liberal summer activity 1989 . . . .
Organised a public meeting at Heytesbury about the proposed road improvements to the A36 from Heytesbury to the Codford by-pass.
From Warminster & District Archive No.2 magazine, Spring 1989:
Heytesbury Mill, once part of the Everett cloth empire in the 18th century, is about to be converted into residential apartments.
The Mill Farm House featuring three reception rooms and three bedrooms, with its outbuildings including the mill, a granary, and a cart shed, plus a large meadow, were put on the market in 1988.
The property was described as “The beautifully situated Mill Farm House with outbuildings for conversion adjacent to the River Wylye.”
Agents Humberts of Blandford, Dorset, sold the property by auction last November for £590,000.
Andrew Houghton in his book Before The Warminster Bypass, published November 1988, noted:
For hundreds of years, Heytesbury was important enough to elect two members of Parliament, and only lost this privilege in 1832.
In 1987, Reg Cundick wrote:
“The Unicorn was a beerhouse at West End; identified as Plot No.2399 in the 1838 Survey of Warminster. This is the first record of it; the owner being Thomas Papps Udsell and the tenant/occupier William Turner. The Unicorn was one of the beerhouses sanctioned under the Beerhouse Act of 1830. It is not known how long this inn existed, but the last known record in any of the local directories was in 1842. It was situated on the opposite side of the road to the Tudor House in Vicarage Street, on the eastern side of a small alley leading to an old malthouse which was converted into residential accommodation before the Second World War. The Unicorn is a private house today.”
Danny Howell, writes:
To which 1842 Directory was being referred to by Reg Cundick is not known. The only local directory for 1842 that I am aware of is the Commercial Directory. This does not list a Unicorn beerhouse or inn for Warminster, but does list The Unicorn public house at Heytesbury – now a private residence on the corner of Park Street and Park Lane, Heytesbury, and now called Unicorn Cottage. (The hill at the eastern end of Heytesbury, on what was the old A36 road from Park Street to the junction with the turning for Chitterne – the present A36 was realigned alongside of this – was once known as Unicorn Hill). Perhaps Reg Cundick made a mistake, with the reference in the Commercial Directory 1842, thinking that the Unicorn listed (at Heytesbury) was a reference to the one at West End (Vicarage Street), Warminster? It might have been a simple oversight on his part. Reg passed away in 1989, so we can’t ask him now whether this was the case or not, but it seems highly likely.
From the Wylye Valley Life magazine, issue no.41, Friday 13th December 1985:
Injuries are causing havoc to Heytesbury’s plans. They have been unable to field a settled side and consequently their performances have not been up to last season’s standards. A replay was needed to overcome Steeple Ashton 6-5 in the Wilts Junior Cup 1st round, with Paul Newman (2), Mark Gunter, Steve McKee, Chris Elloway and Derrick Penny scoring.
A League trip to Bradford-on-Avon realised just one point with Elloway equalising before Bratton visited Heytesbury to hand out a convincing 5-2 defeat. This latter resultt was more upsetting because, with Bratton at the bottom of the table, Heytesbury must have fancied their chances to gain maximum points. Elloway and Newman scored for Heytesbury.
But Heytesbury have progressed to the third round of the League A+B Cup thanks to a 2-1 victory over Westbury side Ross Hillman last Saturday – Derrick Penny and Steve Eyre scored the vital goals.
Report by Peter Farrell.
From the Wylye Valley Life magazine, issue no.36, published Friday 4th October 1985:
Soccer
After a bright opening to the season, Heytesbury went down 4-2 to Hilperton in their initial home match of the season. The home side recovered from conceding an early goal to equalise through Derrick Penny but were 3-1 down at the interval. Although Paul Newman reduced the arrears in the 79th minute, Heytesbury were unable to turn their second half display into more goals.
But they were victorious last Saturday after they took a four goal lead at Lacock through the Penny brothers and Steve Eyre. After Lacock had pulled back three goals a Paul Newman penalty put the result beyond doubt at 5-3.
Report by Peter Farrell.
Mr. A.C. Halliday in his notes on Warminster and the surrounding villages, penned in the 1980s, in a hard-bound notebook (now in the possession of Danny Howell), wrote:
“Mill, down “Park Place’ on the road beyond Heytesbury, had in turn water, steam and now diesel which drives a generator to supply the group of dwellings, but very hard to start on a cold morning. Entrance through little black wicket gate at bend of road to the left, white house, red brick and black mill.”
From the Wylye Valley Life magazine, issue No.21, Friday 8th March 1985:
Planning Application, Heytesbury
Mr and Mrs E.F.D. Fellowes, Slaters Farm, Park Lane; for an extension.
From the Wylye Valley Life magazine, Issue No.9, Friday 7 September 1984:
On Saturday 25th August, the Heytesbury Parochial Church Council organised its first car boot sale, at Caffyn’s Forecourt, Heytesbury. It was a great success for fund-raising and everyone selling – what a way of getting rid of surplus items and making money for yourself!
The Church had its own car boot with items kindly donated by the parish as well as supplying refreshments.
In total £76.16 was raised.
It is hoped that another car boot sale will be organised for next Spring.
From the Wylye Valley Life magazine, Issue No.9, Friday 7 September 1984:
Tomorrow (Saturday) sees the first auction at Heytesbury House, near Warminster. Businessman Mr. Michael Farey who runs Oakferry Ltd., (a company who specialise in the reclaiming and supply of building materials and sundries), at the Heytesbury site, has teamed up with local auctioneer Mr. John Bingham and they hope that their new joint venture will eventually become a regular fortnightly occasion at Heytesbury. They have decided to hold their auctions on Saturdays to cater for the private individual buyer as well as the more commercial bidder.
Tomorrow’s sale, which begins at 10 a.m., includes some 300 lots ranging from antiques, paintings, Chinese items and Victoriana, to modern furniture and effects; and if you’re looking for a wrought iron spiral staircase there’s one of those too!
Mr. Farey confesses to a life-long passion for antiques and when Mr. Bingham suggested the idea for auctions, he readily agreed, knowing there was an opening for such a venture in the area. He says “One of the things John and I had in common was that we were both ex-RAF, so we got on really well together to start with. Mr Bingham is semi-retired but wanted to pursue his interest and he has, of course, many contacts in the area. Plus, we have all the facilities here to hold large auctions and there is good access to the public.”
Talking about the possibility of regular auctions, Mr. Farey added “We’ll see what happens on Saturday and we’ll take it from there.”
